Teen accused of Sydney murder refused bail

A teenager accused of the "nasty and seemingly unprovoked" stabbing murder of a homeless Sydney man in his car has been refused bail.

Brothers Jacksun Travers, now 19, and Raymond Travers, now 21, are charged with murdering 68-year-old Peter Hofmann whose body was found in his white 1990s-model Ford Laser in June 2017 at Maroubra.

The retired bus driver had been living in his car after falling on hard times, having politely refused offers of accommodation from friends and family after he fell victim to a financial scam.

In the NSW Supreme Court on Wednesday, Justice Stephen Rothman refused the younger brother bail but said this could change if he was not given a reasonable opportunity to prepare his case for trial with his lawyers.

"The murder itself, on the facts presented, is very nasty and seemingly unprovoked," he said.

"Whoever committed the felony broke into the car, stabbed the deceased from which stab wounds he died."

Travers' lawyer Ertunc Ozen previously told the court that on at least five occasions his client had conferences with his legal representatives cancelled due to jail staffing and other issues.

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This meant he was "quite significantly hampered" in preparing his case for trial, which was not likely to begin until sometime in 2019.

Justice Rothman said Travers had a fundamental right to have a reasonable opportunity to meet allegations made against him.

"On the material before me that opportunity is not been given," he said.

"It is an appalling state of affairs."

The Crown alleges Travers' DNA was found in blood on the outside of the car and on a cigarette butt inside the vehicle.

The judge said the butt may have been picked up on the foot of Mr Hofmann and deposited in the car, unknowingly, while the DNA found outside the car did not necessarily place Travers inside the vehicle.

A car window had been smashed which may explain the existence of the blood outside.

"It seems to me the crown case is not the strongest case, but I would not describe it as a weak crown case," Justice Rothman said.